Greetings Copic readers! In our previous blog, we discussed the “signature” Copic products; the Sketch, Ciao, and Classic markers, as well as Copic Ink and the Multiliner Pen. Today, we are excited to share a sneak peak at a BRAND NEW Copic product: Acrea! Eager to learn more? Let’s take a look below and see how the Acrea paint pen compares to the signature Copic products.

 

	Acrea	Sketch	Ciao	Classic	Ink	Multiliner*
No. of colors	24 (debut range)	358	180	214	358	10
Nibs or Nib sizes	0.8 (similar nib size to ML pens)	Super Brush & Medium Broad	Super Brush & Medium Broad	Standard Broad & Standard Fine	n/a	9 (0.03, 0.05, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.8, 1.0, Brush Small/BS, Brush Medium/ BM)
Product shape	circle	oval	circle	square	circle	circle
Ink base	water	alcohol	alcohol	alcohol	alcohol	water
Year est.	2024	1993	1998	1987	2020**	1994
Refillable?	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	n/a	No

 

*This is the original Multiliner pen, not the refillable Multiliner SP.

**Copic Ink is the new design of the older model of this product, Copic Various Ink.

 

Above, from top left to bottom right: Acrea on white 65 lb. smooth marker paper, Acrea on tan textured paper, Acrea metallics on black canvas, Acrea on grey watercolor paper, Acrea on painted glass bottles.

 

What makes Acrea different from the regular Copic markers and pens? Acrea is a water-based paint pen, which means that it can be used on many more surfaces than “regular” types of paper that are typically used for Sketch, Ciao, or Classic. In short, Acrea ink will sit on the surface of the paper or object more than soak in to it. This means that you can use Acrea on:

- Marker paper (just like you would with a Sketch, Ciao, or Classic marker)
- Colored paper (including black paper)
- Canvas
- Plastic
- Glass
- Terra cotta
- Ceramics
- On top of a painted surface
- On a laptop sleeve
- On a water bottle
- …and so much more! 

 

 

Before you get started using these new pens, here is how to ‘activate’ them:

1. Shake the pen well with the cap on before using it to loosen the ink inside the pen. You’ll hear a ball moving around, and this is to ensure that the ink is properly mixed before coming out of the nib. Shake for about 30 seconds.

2. Uncap the pen (yes, these caps CAN snap on the other end of the pen!) and hold it perfectly vertical. Press down on the paper in 2 or 3 quick pumps - meaning that as soon as the body of the pen goes all the way down to the paper, quickly release the pressure so the pen goes back to its natural shape. If you hold the pen down for too long, ink will gush out! And nobody wants that to happen. :)

3. Be patient and wait. The ink should be traveling down the nib inside the marker and making its way down to the tip of the nib for use soon.

   If you keep pumping the nib, ink may gush out and make a mess on your paper.

4. If, after minutes of waiting for the ink to travel down the pen and you are still seeing no ink arrive to the tip of the nib, repeat steps 1 and 2 again.

 

Curious to see what all of the Acrea colors look like? Above are the 24 debut colors, including the very metallic Silver and Gold, as well as Rich Black and Snow White. These four colors in particular are a game-changer for outlining marker drawings, as well as adding fine details to your illustrations and/or writing!

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And with that, we wrap up today’s blog! Stay tuned for our next blog, where we’ll be comparing Acrea pens with Copic Sketch, Ciao, and Classic.

Until then, sign up to our email list joining the Copic Club and follow us across our social media channels, @copic_official_us, so you don’t miss the Acrea launch, coming soon!

One last thing - use #copicwithus or tag us @copic_official_us for a chance to have your drawings featured on our Copic US social media channels and the homepage on our website!

Thank you so much for reading and enjoying Copic markers as much as we do! 😀